Edinburgh

Scotland Weather in March

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Scotland in March.

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Edinburgh Aberdeen Oban Dundee

Considering a trip to Scotland this March and wondering about the expected weather conditions? Find all the crucial information you need right here, addressing your question:

What to Expect in Scotland in March

March in Scotland generally has cold temperatures, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy.

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are cold and range from 8°C (46°F) in Shetland to 10°C (50°F) in Bowmore. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 5°C (41°F) in Bowmore and 5°C (41°F) in Shetland.

To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of Scotland, check out the map below.

Precipitation

In March, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Aberdeen with an average of 61 mm (2.4 in) to heavy rainfall in Mallaig with 207 mm (8.1 in).

Average sunshine

Most areas see decent amounts of sunshine this month. Edinburgh gets around 116 hours of sunlight, providing a pleasant balance of sun and clouds. If you'd prefer more guaranteed sunshine, our weather planner can show you sunnier spots around the world.

Explore Scotland by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Scotland — and find the best time to visit. (based on Edinburgh)

January8°C (46°F) February8°C (46°F) March10°C (50°F) April12°C (54°F) May15°C (59°F) This monthJune18°C (64°F) July19°C (66°F) August19°C (66°F) September17°C (63°F) October14°C (57°F) November10°C (50°F) December8°C (46°F)
Best Time to Visit Scotland →

Best Places to Visit in Scotland in March

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Scotland.

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Scotland

What is the weather like in March for some of the most popular destinations in Scotland?

Temperature range in Scotland (March)

Precipitation variation in Scotland (March)

Edinburgh

In March Edinburgh generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 10°C (50°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 3°C (37°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« February
March
April »
February
March
April
Max temperature
8°C (46°F)
10°C (50°F)
12°C (54°F)
Min temperature
2°C (36°F)
3°C (37°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
81 hours
116 hours
155 hours
Monthly rainfall
81 mm (3.2 in)
70 mm (2.8 in)
66 mm (2.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
18 days
15 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
unpleasant
Climate in Edinburgh →

Aberdeen

In March Aberdeen generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C (48°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 4°C (39°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« February
March
April »
February
March
April
Max temperature
8°C (46°F)
9°C (48°F)
11°C (52°F)
Min temperature
3°C (37°F)
4°C (39°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
86 hours
124 hours
155 hours
Monthly rainfall
65 mm (2.6 in)
61 mm (2.4 in)
63 mm (2.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
18 days
17 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
unpleasant
Climate in Aberdeen →

Oban

In March Oban generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C (48°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 3°C (37°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« February
March
April »
February
March
April
Max temperature
8°C (46°F)
9°C (48°F)
11°C (52°F)
Min temperature
3°C (37°F)
3°C (37°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
59 hours
86 hours
145 hours
Monthly rainfall
220 mm (8.7 in)
179 mm (7 in)
131 mm (5.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
21 days
17 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Oban →

Dundee

In March Dundee generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 10°C (50°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 3°C (37°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« February
March
April »
February
March
April
Max temperature
9°C (48°F)
10°C (50°F)
12°C (54°F)
Min temperature
2°C (36°F)
3°C (37°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
79 hours
118 hours
147 hours
Monthly rainfall
71 mm (2.8 in)
66 mm (2.6 in)
63 mm (2.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
16 days
14 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
unpleasant
Climate in Dundee →

Shetland

In March Shetland generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C (41°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« February
March
April »
February
March
April
Max temperature
8°C (46°F)
8°C (46°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
5°C (41°F)
6°C (43°F)
Monthly sun hours
55 hours
93 hours
130 hours
Monthly rainfall
119 mm (4.7 in)
102 mm (4 in)
67 mm (2.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
20 days
23 days
19 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Shetland →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Scotland.

Popular cities in March

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Scotland in March.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Edinburgh 10°C (50°F) 3°C (37°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Aberdeen 9°C (48°F) 4°C (39°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Oban 9°C (48°F) 3°C (37°F) 179 mm (7 in)
Dundee 10°C (50°F) 3°C (37°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
Balmacara 9°C (48°F) 3°C (37°F) 183 mm (7.2 in)
Shetland 8°C (46°F) 5°C (41°F) 102 mm (4 in)

Scotland weather in March: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Scotland in March?

March in Scotland brings poor weather. In Edinburgh, daytime temperatures are typically around 10°C (50°F) and nighttime lows hover near 3°C (37°F).

What is the average temperature in Scotland in March?

In Edinburgh, the average daytime high in March is 10°C (50°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around 3°C (37°F).

Does Scotland get a lot of rain in March?

Not particularly. Edinburgh averages just 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain in March, making it a mostly dry month for Scotland.

Is March a Good Time to Visit Scotland?

In our view, March might not be the best time to travel to Scotland with often poor weather in Edinburgh.

On average, the best time to visit Scotland is in June, July and August with generally pleasant weather in Edinburgh. On the other hand, the months of January, February, March, November and December tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Scotland.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Scotland? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Scotland.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

Bucket list

Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.

Scotland’s West Coast - A Sailor’s Paradise

Whether you are looking to sail to an island to enjoy empty white sandy beaches or a rocky mountainous walk there is always a choice. Sailing is by far the best way to explore this area.
Must visit in Scotland →